With over 100,000 square feet of floor space and thousands of feet of piping within the historic Colorado State Capitol building, 360 Engineering approached this project from a systematic analysis perspective. The engineering team went on-site to locate the piping systems on all building levels, from the sub-basement to the attic, and used original engineering drawings, along with any documented renovations, to help establish main line locations. The piping systems evaluated included steam, condensate return, domestic cold water, domestic hot water, waste line, vent lines, and storm drain. Each presented challenges for the engineering team to solve, from domestic water lines that started and stopped between floors to steam lines hidden inside walls. To tackle the latter, 360 Engineering used thermal cameras to locate the steam piping, determine the effectiveness of the existing steam radiators, and find any steam leaks occurring behind the walls. Based on these detailed field observations, all piping was incorporated into a REVIT model for the building owner’s use on future projects.
Project Category: Municipal/State
University of Colorado – Institute of Behavioral Science (IBS) Remodel
University of Colorado Boulder’s Institute of Behavioral Science (IBS) is “committed to advancing knowledge of society’s most pressing challenges, and to pursuing solutions to those challenges through innovative and interdisciplinary research, education, and engagement in the world.” To fulfill its mission, the facility engages in a variety of projects.
IBS modified two rooms to create a secure laboratory space for data terminals connected to sensitive Census information and to add adjacent private office space.
360 Engineering’s scope included HVAC ductwork modifications made to accommodate the reuse of space.
Arapahoe County – District Attorney’s Office
Arapahoe County remodeled the existing 11,145-square-foot District Attorney’s Office located on the first, second, and third floors of the County building. The project included the addition of new offices, new cubicle furniture layouts, and new conference rooms. 360 Engineering evaluated and modified the mechanical system including the addition of new fan coil units, redistribution of the supply air ductwork and diffusers, relocation of temperature controls, and coordinating the diffuser layouts with the architect and electrical engineer to prevent conflicts with lighting or other ceiling features. The mechanical system primarily uses four-pipe fan coil units (FCUs), except an existing constant volume unit serving part of the third floor was converted to a variable volume and temperature (VVT) system.
Arapahoe County – Clerk and Recorder’s Office
The Arapahoe County Clerk and Recorder’s Office added a new training room, two new offices, a new conference room, and two one-stall restrooms to an existing warehouse. 360 Engineering designed the new mechanical and plumbing systems for the 2,600-square-foot build-out, which involved new rooftop units (RTUs) for the training room, redistribution of the existing RTU supply ductwork for the new conference room and two new offices, new exhaust fans for the restrooms, a new plumbing system for the entire space, and performance specifications for the fire protection system.
South Adams County – Fire Administration Headquarters
South Adams County Fire Protection District, serving Commerce City, Henderson, and parts of unincorporated Adams County, underwent an expansion, including improvements to existing fire stations and the construction of a new centralized fire administrative headquarters. 360 Engineering designed the mechanical and plumbing systems for the new building, including an energy-efficient geothermal ground-source heat pump system with a bore field.
The ground-up headquarters building design consisted of three floors totaling approximately 14,000 square feet. The basement included an archive storage space, mechanical, electrical, and water entry rooms; and an unassigned area to be utilized by the building owner for future use. Floors one and two focused primarily on offices and a board room with restrooms, break rooms and conference rooms throughout the space.
Westminster City Hall – Council Chambers Renovation
Initially constructed in 1988, the Westminster City Council Chambers served the City and citizens well for over 20 years. However, by 2015, the Chambers needed interior improvements, including technology, ADA, and safety upgrades. 360 Engineering worked with the Anderson Hallas Architects team to provide Westminster with a 21st Century City Council Chambers.
To accommodate a new board room and safe room, 360 Engineering provided mechanical engineering analysis and design, offering the City of Westminster HVAC options to work with existing systems and meet updated building codes.
Routt County Courthouse – Department of Motor Vehicle and County Treasurer’s Office
Located in the heart of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, the historic 1923 Routt County Courthouse building houses several public offices, including the Routt County Department of Motor Vehicle and Treasurer Office. To improve occupant thermal comfort in these office spaces, 360 Engineering provided troubleshooting and mechanical engineering services.
The HVAC design solution included new rooftop units, demolishing the existing connections to improve the multi-zone performance and specification of a new condensing unit for the multi-zone air handler. Additionally, in a recently added office, ductwork design modifications were provided to optimize comfort.
Denver Performing Arts Complex – Parking Garage Assessment
The Denver Performing Arts Complex (DPAC) Parking Garage is an eight-story structure with capacity for 1,700 vehicles. 360 Engineering provided engineering services for replacing the storm drain piping, as well as consulting related to temporary relocation and protection of the facility’s mechanical and plumbing systems. The team performed multiple site visits to observe existing conditions and, based on detailed field notes and photos, prepared construction documents for replacing area drains, roof drains, and associated piping.
Colorado State Capitol – House and Senate Chambers
The Colorado State Capitol Building’s House and Senate Chambers underwent a three-phase restoration that returned the rooms’ original appearance with updates to the acoustics, lighting, and AV systems. 1950s-era acoustical tiles were removed, and all chamber walls, stenciling, and architectural details were restored to their 1905 historical significance. 360 Engineering designed new HVAC ductwork routing to expose historic ceiling features, providing the client with multiple design options to maximize the exposed ceiling. This project was a 2017 State Honor Award recipient from Colorado Preservation, Inc. and received the 2016 AIA Colorado Design Award of Merit for Commercial/Institutional.
Breckenridge Grand Vacations Community Center – Rehabilitation
A National Historic Landmark, the 1909 Breckenridge Schoolhouse underwent a two-year comprehensive rehabilitation to become the Breckenridge Grand Vacations Community Center and Summit County South Branch Library. The 26,000-square-foot space features a new 160-seat feature film theater, a community conference space, a library with multipurpose meeting spaces, expanded reading areas, state-of-the-art technology, coffee shop, and other amenities.
Early in the design phase, 360 Engineering provided cost-saving mechanical engineering consulting to the Town of Breckenridge. Based on research and evaluation of local climate data, the team determined that a full mechanical cooling system was not required. A passive cooling system was the most suitable solution. This determination resulted in a positive impact on the Town’s budget and allowed them to maximize return for their investment in other areas of the building. 360 Engineering also designed a new facility-wide mechanical system to accommodate the building’s changed use, including the use of high efficiency condensing boilers.
